WWE officials are reportedly monitoring the contract status of AEW star Powerhouse Hobbs, viewing him as a potential major acquisition in the new year.
According to Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, the internal sentiment within WWE is said to be very high regarding Hobbs, with people impressed by his physical presence and powerhouse wrestling style.
While no official expiration date for his current AEW deal has been confirmed, observers believe he would immediately establish himself as a top-tier player in NXT or on the main roster if he chose to make the jump. His addition would certainly help the NXT roster, which has lost top stars Oba Femi and Trick Williams.
Hobbs has built a significant resume in AEW since his 2020 debut, having previously held the TNT Championship and a share of the World Trios Championship. He is currently a member of The Opps alongside veterans Samoa Joe and Katsuyori Shibata.
The trio captured the AEW World Trios Championship on the April 16, 2025, episode of Dynamite: Spring BreakThru, defeating the Death Riders (Jon Moxley, Claudio Castagnoli, and Wheeler Yuta). As of January 2026, The Opps are in the midst of a record-breaking title reign, having held the gold for over 266 days.
Most recently, Hobbs competed on the January 7, 2026, episode of Dynamite in Tulsa, Oklahoma. In a violent Lights Out main event, Hobbs teamed with fellow faction member HOOK against the newly formed alliance of “Hangman” Adam Page and Swerve Strickland.
Despite a brutal performance that featured the use of steel chains and cinder blocks, Hobbs and HOOK suffered a submission loss after Page used a chain to hang HOOK over the ropes.
Despite the setback, Hobbs remains a centerpiece of AEW’s programming as the company accelerates the road to Maximum Carnage. It’s unclear whether Hobbs would even be interested in going to WWE or entertain such an idea, considering he’s been with AEW the majority of his career.
